“I look at it as every year, every game that I play, we’re going to be the best we can be. I hate it when people say you’re rebuilding because to me that’s a slap in the face to the people that are out there playing,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday on his weekly show on 93.7 The Fan, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “You sit there and say, ‘They’re young, they’re rebuilding, but what about the guys that are out there playing?’

“You think they’re sitting there telling themselves, ‘Oh, it’s OK [to lose], it’s a rebuilding year.’ No, they’re out there trying to bust their butt, and that includes me.”

He also insisted he wouldn’t “jump ship and quit” even if they continue down the current path.

“No one wants to win more than I do. It pains me to lose football games, it pains me to lose at anything,” Roethlisberger said. “That’s just who I am. So that’s why I’m going to do everything I can to turn it around and win football games. . . .

“Just because the season started bad doesn’t mean I’m going to quit on the season.”

That’s good news for the Steelers, but their few wins don’t appear to be because of a lack of effort. They look more like the result of a lack of talent, which is kind of the definition of a team that’s in need of rebuilding.

The Steelers should bring on some savvy veterans, so they can stay old. I especially hope Polamalu plays forever.

vincentbojackson says:Nov 13, 2013 7:58 AM

At 3-6 they currently have the #11 defense and #15 offense in the league right now. Not a cause for cries of a total overhaul in most cities. But when your franchise has 6 Lombardi’s in 8 appearances that doesn’t cut it.

You can call it “rebuilding” or you can just call it what it is, a down year. Regardless of what you call it, expect the Steelers to add a few more pieces next year and be back in the top third of the league like they almost always seem to be.

“Superbowl MVP Joe Flacco will lead us to back to back Superbowls. Meanwhile the Steel City meltdown continues.”

Good one! Lol! The Ravens are week from being in the cellar much less being in back to back superbowls. The Ravens lost to the steelers once and are in jeopardy of being swept. The Steelers don’t rebuild. They just reload.

jobotjones says:Nov 13, 2013 9:37 AM

I disagree, it seems to be a lack of execution. They have the players to win these games they just don’t make the plays needed to win.

They could’ve won games against the bengals, raiders, titans, vikings and even the bears.

When I think of rebuilding, it’s from more of a salary cap stand point. I really think we will see that at the end of the season. Many vets will be cut and or retired. The Steelers will rely on many young players, but I do believe with a Vet. QB and Pouncy back along with RB Bell having a year under his belt they will be competitive in the division. Simply because the division is not that good.

crownofthehelmet says:Nov 13, 2013 10:12 AM

I’m certain the only “rebuilding” talks taking place at the steelers complex is during ravens-week.

6ball says:Nov 13, 2013 10:17 AM

.
@vincentjackson

” we’re currently 11th in defense and 15th in offense ”

Not exactly ” we’re #1”, but close.

Face facts. The Steelers have a roster that scares no one and consistently loses to bad teams. The team has no cap space.

If you think a few off season additions are going to turn things around, then you must be doing your shopping in Canton.

Stats dont lie. Seems to me that Ben is beating Flacco in every meaningful stat. Just posted the stats so everyone could see that you have no idea what you are talking about, not that anyone thought you did!!

Deb says:Nov 13, 2013 1:20 PM

For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Steelers are letting Ben do this radio program. He has a history of putting his foot in his mouth in the best of times–and these are not the best of times. If you were going to give the guy a weekly soap box, why not do it following a Super Bowl rather than in a season where the team is in such complete disarray??

These comments about rebuilding just make him sound like a nine-year vet who has no clue about the game or the workings of his own team. No one is suggesting that the guys playing now aren’t trying or shouldn’t try their best. But obviously we have some talent issues, whether from aging, injuries, or poor drafting. And those issues must be addressed in the coming off season. Duh. That is called rebuilding. Every team has to do it at some point … even if the QB has no idea what it means.

crownofthehelmet says:Nov 13, 2013 1:32 PM

johnnybaggadonuts says:

Can somebody remind me what T. Haley does well as an OC?
——————————————————
Sure – he’s good at overusing the WR screen.

bobzilla1001 says:Nov 13, 2013 1:38 PM

Deb:
Ben is a 10-year vet.
But who’s counting?
This so-called radio show is co-hosted by P-G sports columnist Ron Cook, who is Roethlisberger’s surrogate father. Always after each show, when Ben is off the air, Cook explains what his boy REALLY meant to say.
Cook is Roethlisberger’s most overexposed — via TV, radio, and newspaper — apologist. There’s nothing about this “show” that should be taken seriously.
It’s a colossal joke.

Big Bum never seems to shut up long enough. Dude’s always running his mouth.
–
How do you figure? He is answering questions posed to him. He is not searching out reporters and talk show hosts to give his opinions.

The Steelers should bring on some savvy veterans, so they can stay old. I especially hope Polamalu plays forever.
–
Those were the ways of the late 50s and 60s but that is not what is happening here. In fact, the Steelers o-line is one of the youngest in the NFL if not the youngest. They have young RBs and young WRs not counting Burress on IR. Besides Roethlisberger, Miller, Foote, Keisel, Taylor, Clark and Polamalu, all of their remaining starters are younger.

Face facts. The Steelers have a roster that scares no one and consistently loses to bad teams. The team has no cap space.
–
It is not the roster that scares no one, it is the systems currently in place. When you talk to other coaches, they all agree that the Steelers have the talent but when that talent is not utilized correctly, that is when it fails. Haley employs the WR screen as Ben’s hot read on most passing plays and it is mostly a recipe for disaster. How many times do we see other teams using a quick slant as a hot read against the Steelers and the Steelers get burned? (Tebow’s OT pass rings a loud bell) Teams have figured out LeBeau’s blitz packages nullifying the pass rush. The system needs change.